Please discuss the Motorcycle.com article 2011 World Cruiser Shootout in our Motorcycle Forums below. Use the reply button to let others know your comments or feedback on the article. Constructive criticism is always appreciated, along with your thoughts and personal opinions on the bikes and products we have tested.

seruzawa

10-13-2011 04:48 PM

Unfortunately HD did not invent the chopper or the cruiser and before the 70s HD made pains to distance themselves from what were perceived as outlaw bikes. Choppers were invented by users, returned WWII servicemen who had ridden Britbikes and decided that they'd had enough of HD's overweight sleds. They removed parts and bits and drilled things out... anything to reduce weight. Their demands forced HD to finally put on a mousetrap so that users could shift by foot.

What could be done to Harleys could be done to other bikes and by the mid-60s you saw chopped Triumph and BSAs all over SoCal as well. Eventually HD produced the Superglide and they've successfully bamboozled millions of people into believing that HD invented the "cruiser".

Duken4evr

10-15-2011 08:14 AM

HD vs. Triumph. Some things are timeless.

Funny to see the HD outpowering the Honda. How exactly does Honda get 53hp out of a 1,300cc engine? A factory installed rag stuffed in the intake snorkle?

One thing I like about the Guzzi - the 90 degree twin, like all engines of this configuration, sounds awesome when allowed to exhale through free flowing exhaust plumbing. My pal has an old 70's era Guzzi. It is a complete trip to ride, but it's exhaust note is sweet indeed.

seruzawa

10-15-2011 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duken4evr
(Post 268147)

How exactly does Honda get 53hp out of a 1,300cc engine? A factory installed rag stuffed in the intake snorkle?

Same way they get 44hp out of a 750. And it's not a rag it's a "torque improvement device".

sarnali2

10-15-2011 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seruzawa
(Post 268148)

Same way they get 44hp out of a 750. And it's not a rag it's a "torque improvement device".

An "Intake Resonance Reducer" ?

I'd have shoehorned the T-bird engine into the Speedmaster if they'd asked me. A lot better looking bike IMO, either that or just buy a Rocket and be done with it. Kinda' makes me wonder why they even bothered with this bike to start with since between the Bonny America, Speedmaster and Rocket 3 they seem to have a pretty good cruiser line-up already.

As to the other bikes the low seat height is a deal killer for me, there's too many other bikes that fit better and are much more usable for me to consider them such as the XR1200 Sporty, Bonneville SE or Speedmaster or the M-G V7, all are "classically styled" bikes that actually work in the real world. One of those would be my pick.

zrx4me

10-15-2011 01:20 PM

I think the harley fat bob would have been a better bike for you to put up against the thunderbird.103 engine and dual discs up front.JMO

Kevin_Duke

10-15-2011 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zrx4me
(Post 268155)

I think the harley fat bob would have been a better bike for you to put up against the thunderbird.103 engine and dual discs up front.JMO

The Fat Bob would've put up a better fight, but we left it out because of its $15,349 base MSRP. We built this comparo around a $13K MSRP zone.

seruzawa

10-15-2011 03:20 PM

One more thing. When you consider how much any Harley costs the substandard brakes are inexcusable. If you are going to use a single front disc then at least use a good one like the caliper on the old ZRX1200. Those brakes were quite good and not expensive. Even one of those calipers on the front would be a good upgrade from HD's current flaccid one. In this day and age there's no excuse for it any more.

Dr_Sprocket

10-16-2011 06:48 AM

Out of this group, the Harley has the look but the Triumph gets my vote. As a tall guy with long legs, I simply cannot tolerate the crazy seat-to-peg relationships the Superglide and Guzzi offer.

Dr_Sprocket

10-16-2011 06:50 AM

Kudos to the authors for putting these four bikes together! It was an informative comparison in a well-defined market segment. Bravo!